"Is it that simple?"
"It is that simple! Cooking should be something that brings joy. Only when you cherish the anticipation for freshly made delicious food will you want to give it your all." Dylan said with a serious expression, then also grabbed a pair of chopsticks, took a large piece of meat from the Five-Nesting Duck, and placed it in his own bowl.
He naturally wouldn't leave all the food he had painstakingly prepared solely for the judges. In fact, he made this dish more because he wanted to eat it himself, and it also happened to be a good test of knife skills, so he just went ahead and made it.
"Damn it, you're actually snatching food from the judges! No way, I want some too!"
Seeing Dylan's extremely relaxed behavior, Zhang Xingyuan, who was standing nearby suppressing his cravings and silently waiting for the judges' scores, was instantly put out. So, he also grabbed a bowl and chopsticks, stood beside Dylan, and joined the battle to demolish the delicious food.
Unlike his Sanxian Deboned Fish, Dylan's dish had a much larger portion; even if three to five people ate it, they wouldn't be able to finish it in a short time.
"You two are truly unconventional. However, young brother Dylan is right about one thing: cooking should be something that brings joy. Perhaps we've forgotten that in the very beginning, the reason we made food was simply to make the person eating it happy."
Watching Dylan and Zhang Xingyuan continuously extend their chopsticks towards the dish before them, Master Baiyao couldn't help but look up at the sky, pondering his own original intentions.
"'Original intention?' I never thought I'd hear such an answer from a junior more than sixty years younger than me. It truly makes one feel ashamed." Granny Qiaoshou muttered to herself.
Dylan's simple words were like a clap of thunder, a phrase that awakens the dreamer, making her suddenly realize. Mainly, in the past, no one would have said this in front of her. And even if they had, she might not necessarily have listened, merely feeling a bit nostalgic.
But Dylan chose this moment perfectly. Just as her heart was trembling because of the 'flowing radiance dish,' these words struck her soul directly!
"It seems... it wasn't just Tianci whose eyes were blinded by the status of becoming a higher-star chef, but us as well!"
Shaking his head, Master Baiyao gave a wry smile, finally understanding where the problem lay. That pure heart, solely dedicated to creating better dishes, constantly striving and researching with all its might—he didn't know in which bygone era he had abandoned it.
Although he still wanted to make more delicious dishes now, that heart had completely changed, and without the support of innate talent, it was naturally difficult to make any further progress.
"'Original intention...'"
Placing a piece of duck meat mixed with slices of ham and bamboo shoot into his mouth, savoring the rich flavor, Fatty An muttered to himself. One phrase to awe three heroes—that described Dylan's words just now.
"Alright, let's begin the scoring."
Suddenly, Master Baiyao's expression turned serious. He decided to proceed with the competition first and exchanged a look with Granny Qiaoshou and Fatty An beside him. The audience also held their breath, their eyes full of anticipation.
Because the aroma had mostly dissipated, most people had regained their composure. Upon learning they had been so affected by the fragrance that they almost rushed the judges' table, they all wore expressions of disbelief, as those had been their unconscious actions.
"Before you score, I suggest you try tasting this dish in a different way. You will have a completely different experience from just now."
Seeing the three about to start scoring, Dylan looked at the dish before them and suddenly spoke, then took a few steps forward, coming before them.
"The most amazing part of this dish isn't actually tasting it directly. That way, at best, it's just a relatively exquisite 'flowing radiance dish.' As a product of my full effort, how could it be as simple as just a 'flowing radiance dish'?!"
"Could it be that this dish has another trick up its sleeve?"
Hearing Dylan's words, a hint of doubt flickered across Master Baiyao's face, and he then examined the dish carefully. But after looking for a long time, he didn't notice anything different and could only turn his puzzled gaze towards Dylan, who had said this.
"For this Five-Nesting Duck, I cleaned out all the bones; even the tiniest gristle and cartilage were completely removed. In other words, you can eat it like 'qiegao,' tasting the deliciousness of this entire dish comprehensively from top to bottom."
As Dylan spoke, a dining knife appeared in his hand. Before anyone could react, he began to cut the remaining Five-Nesting Duck. Instantly, the Five-Nesting Duck, originally in the shape of a duck, was transformed into small, square cubes.
And each of these small cubes was composed in the order of domestic duck, wild duck, pigeon, quail, and wild pigeon meat. Extremely thin slices of ham, bamboo shoot, and shiitake mushroom were interspersed between the layers of meat to enhance the umami. With one bite, you could directly taste all the flavors of the entire dish!
"Come on, this is the second form of this dish! Cubed Five-Nesting Duck!"
Placing the prepared small cubes onto a white porcelain plate and then setting it before the three judges, Dylan smiled. The most amazing part of this dish was actually tasting five types of ingredients simultaneously! The flavor created by the interweaving of different fowls was richer than that of just one or two types, and not just by a little bit!
"This form feels a bit like Western cuisine. If you put a little sauce on the side, it would be standard Western plating." Master Baiyao looked at the small cubes before him and couldn't help but comment. These small cubes, with a bit of sauce for decoration—wouldn't that just be Western food?
"Chinese and Western cuisine actually only differ in form. The true definition of 'cuisine,' in fact, has always been just one thing: deliciousness," Dylan stated his understanding of cooking with a calm expression.
After hearing his words, Master Baiyao nodded. It was indeed true; the standard for judging whether a dish is good or bad has always been just one criterion: Whether it's delicious or not. Its form is actually just a vessel.
"'A second-stage 'flowing radiance dish'... besides changing the way it's eaten, there isn't much else different. What kind of difference will there be in taste?'" Master Baiyao pondered inwardly, then raised his hand and picked up the piece with his chopsticks. The small cube was surprisingly firm and didn't fall apart immediately.
"'Perhaps this current form is the true way to eat this dish.'"
Suddenly, such a thought surfaced in Master Baiyao's mind. He then put the piece into his mouth.
The next moment, umami exploded in his mouth! Rich, mellow, with a hint of broth. The slices of bamboo shoot, ham, and shiitake mushroom enhanced the texture of the Five-Nesting Duck, simultaneously elevating the flavor of the duck meat, making its layers even more distinct.
And because only knotted scallions and ginger slices were added for aromatics, this dish showcased entirely the inherent flavors of the ingredients themselves. But that was more than enough. The umami of five types of fowl layered together, each distinct yet mutually integrated—it was an indescribable taste!
The first impact was the delicate and mellow base flavor of the domestic duck, carrying a deep, natural umami that slowly unfolded. Next, the wild flavor of the wild duck subtly joined in, adding a touch of untamed spirit and vitality to the dish, while forming a subtle contrast with the gentle richness of the domestic duck.
Then, the clean sweetness of the pigeon meat and the delicateness of the quail meat intertwined, their respective unique umami flavors dancing lightly in the mouth! Finally, the flavor of the wild pigeon meat spread, radiating to the other parts, pushing this deliciousness to a new height! Its meat was firmer, its umami even more concentrated—undoubtedly the masterstroke of this dish! For so many elements to explode in an instant, it was completely different from the feeling of tasting it bit by bit earlier. The impact was extremely powerful!
"This is truly...!"
"Roaming freely between heaven and earth!"
Closing his eyes, his whole being seemed to transform into a phoenix. The interweaving of various aromas transformed into tail feathers, increasing its speed. The phoenix spread its wings, and ten thousand birds bowed in submission. Such an imposing aura of freely roaming heaven and earth was deeply shocking to the core.
"Not just a 'flowing radiance dish,' but the most, most top-tier 'flowing radiance dish'! Such an immersive and heroic feeling is something ordinary dishes cannot provide!!"
Granny Qiaoshou delivered her verdict, her face still showing the shock from having just emerged from the illusion. Despite being cut into countless small pieces, the dish before them still shimmered with flowing radiance, even more stably than before!
"A dish like this..."
"A dish of this level..."
"Indeed, we don't even have the qualification to evaluate it."
The three said, silently putting down their pens, a flush of shame appearing on their faces. A dish of this caliber was simply not something a few Six-Star Special Grade Chefs like them could evaluate. This definitely surpassed the standard of a Seven-Star Special Grade Chef!
A nineteen-year-old Eight-Star Special Grade Chef, possibly even higher! Such a young monster must be reported to the China Chefs' Federation! The identities of China's existing Eight-Star Special Grade Chefs are all top secret; they don't usually appear in the public eye. The only Eight-Star Special Grade Chef they knew of was the head chef of the state banquet, Zheng A'qiang. His name was quite ordinary, a very common name for that era. But with just a kitchen knife, he had fought his way to become the head chef of the state banquet. And as for Nine-Star Special Grade Chefs above that, even with their status, they couldn't hear any news. Chefs of that level were already national treasures!
"Although we don't have the qualification to evaluate it, I can tell everyone with great certainty that this dish is more delicious than the previous Sanxian Deboned Fish!" Master Baiyao's voice rang out once more, making the most impartial judgment. Although the other two Heavenly Kings didn't speak, they nodded in agreement beside him.
"In that case. The Divine Knife Skills Showdown hereby concludes! First place, Dylan! Second place, Zhang Xingyuan! Third place, Lei Tianci! Fourth place, Li Xiao!"
After finalizing the results, Master Baiyao stood up from his seat, strode forward, and looked at the numerous spectators as he announced loudly.
One stone stirred up a thousand ripples.
"That young man actually won!?"
"I knew it! I knew he would achieve final victory!"
"Get lost! You were just badmouthing him a moment ago, and now you support him? Changing faces that fast, are you planning to audition for Peking Opera?"
"What! I only said that to put some pressure on him! Actually, I've trusted him from the very beginning! If you don't understand, don't talk nonsense!"
"I really didn't expect Lizhuang White Meat to only rank third! What was that continuous flowing radiance on those two dishes? Is it a step above golden light?"
"Not too clear. I've only heard of 'golden light dishes,' never 'flowing radiance dishes.' However, seeing as their scores were higher than for golden light, perhaps it's a higher-tier dish? Regardless, for that young man to win against so many skilled chefs, his future is truly limitless!"
Not everyone in the audience knew about 'flowing radiance dishes'; in fact, the vast majority had only seen a 'glowing dish' for the first time today, hence their questions.
"No matter what, we should be able to see the Legendary Cooking Utensil next, right?" An audience member said with a face full of anticipation, their gaze turning towards the direction where the Legendary Cooking Utensil was.
"The Legendary Cooking Utensil... I'll probably only get to see it once in this lifetime. I'm so excited! What on earth will that utensil look like?"
As Master Baiyao announced the final victor of the competition, the venue immediately erupted into huge discussions and some excited shouts.
The discussions only gradually subsided when a bell chimed from the mountain.
"The Legendary Cooking Utensil that has been slumbering in the Daxian Temple until a true successor appears. Guangdong Province Special Grade Chef Dylan, Guangdong Province Special Grade Chef Zhang Xingyuan, Guangdong Province Special Grade Chef Lei Tianci—the three of you have performed excellently in the sacred Divine Knife Skills Showdown and will receive the qualification to participate in the utensil inheritance ceremony." His gaze sweeping across the venue, Master Baiyao's voice rang out once more, announcing that Dylan and the other two had obtained the qualification to participate in the inheritance ceremony.
"Inheritance ceremony?" In the audience stands, Miyoko Hojo's expression was somewhat puzzled.
"Does that mean... even if you win the competition, you can't just take the utensil away directly?" Megumi Tadokoro pinched her chin and murmured softly.
"That's right. He is not yet the official successor of the Legendary Cooking Utensil. The owner of a Legendary Cooking Utensil must undergo a ceremony to determine if he is the true successor."
Li Xiang had appeared behind the group at some unknown point. His sudden voice made the girls tremble, and then Li Wanwan turned around.
"Dad, can you not speak so suddenly? It's really scary! Also, how do you know so much? Weren't you completely clueless last time?" Seeing it was her dad, Li Wanwan couldn't help but retort, patting her chest as she spoke, as if to calm herself down.
Regarding this, Li Xiang merely glanced at her and said no more.
At this moment, several elderly monks had arrived before Dylan and the other two, with Master Baiyao accompanying them.
"Amitron, the three of you, please follow me."
"Okay." Dylan nodded and was the first to step forward and follow.
Zhang Xingyuan and Lei Tianci fell half a step behind him, thereby showing their respect. Although he was just a young brat, to be able to create a dish of that caliber, in the culinary world, he was considered their senior and must be respected.
"The Legendary Cooking Utensils... I also read about them in an ancient book. It was a thousand years ago. A legendary master chef forged secret cooking utensils from a meteorite that fell from the cosmos." Watching Dylan follow the Daxian Temple monks, Li Xiang's voice sounded again, recounting what he had seen and heard from ancient texts to his daughter and her friends. He had searched for a long time before finding it in a corner of the library.
"Unseal the Utensil!"
Simultaneously, an aged voice sounded from not far away. Accompanied by the sound of paper strips tearing, an old monk brought out the box sealing the Legendary Cooking Utensil and placed it on the former judges' table.
As he placed his hand on the box and opened a slight crack, a dense golden light burst forth, so dazzling it made people unable to open their eyes!
Only Dylan, relying on his extraordinary eyesight, stared intently at the box, looking at the Legendary Cooking Utensil inside, his eyes filled with fervent passion.
"What?"
"Auspicious clouds! Quick, look! The golden light shot up into the sky, making the clouds sparkle!"
"So magical! Is this the Legendary Cooking Utensil? To actually have such a miraculous effect!"
"Too spectacular! My phone camera only captures overexposed images! Damn it! Such a scene, and I can't even take a photo to record it!"
"Indeed, mine can't get a clear shot either. It seems to be affected by some mysterious force!"
A dazzling golden light burst from the box, shooting straight into the sky, drawing all the surrounding clouds towards it, causing them to take on the appearance of auspicious clouds. How could the people around have ever seen such a sight? They all whipped out their phones to take pictures. However, as if interfered with by an unknown magnetic field, their phones were completely unable to capture the scene before them.
"It really is the Yongling Saber."
Looking at the utensil lying quietly in the box, Dylan's expression suddenly turned serious. After his understanding from this period, he clearly knew that this world was not the world of 'Chuuka Ichiban!' nor was this a timeline after it.
But, whether it was the Guangzhou culinary examination, the Divine Knife Skills Showdown, or even the Legendary Cooking Utensil appearing in Daxian Temple—all of it indicated that this world had countless ties to 'Chuuka Ichiban!' In that case, perhaps it could explain why he had transmigrated here.
"No matter what, I'll take it one step at a time." Overthinking was useless. Since he was living quite well in this world, Dylan couldn't be bothered to consider other things. The most pressing matter now was to obtain the utensil's recognition!
"It's not rusted at all!"
"But at first glance, it looks just like an ordinary kitchen knife."
Someone standing near the front tiptoed to look into the box and then discovered that this Legendary Cooking Utensil, in terms of appearance, actually looked like a regular kitchen knife.
"Go on, pick it up and take a look."
Master Baiyao's voice sounded beside Dylan, tinged with a faint excitement. Perhaps this man could truly obtain the recognition of the Legendary Cooking Utensil!
"Mm." Dylan nodded and responded calmly.
"So, what exactly is this so-called inheritance ceremony? When does it start?"
Watching Dylan's expression gradually turn serious, Li Wanwan reached up and scratched her hair, feeling a bit bewildered. This was too nerve-wracking!
"It has already begun. When he holds that Yongling Saber in his hand, the Yongling Saber itself will determine whether he is the true successor."
Li Xiang's voice sounded once more. That ancient book was found in a Guangzhou library, so its records on the Yongling Saber were very detailed. This saber possessed the ability to restore the freshness of ingredients that had been stored for a long time and had lost their umami. It wouldn't be an exaggeration to call it the dream saber of all chefs under heaven.
Unfortunately, only its master could wield this power. And this was a saber that had been without a master for over a thousand years, accumulating over a millennium of loneliness.
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